Proposal of Manufacturing Method for New Passive Elastic Joint and Prototype of Human Phantom

Abstract

Fabricating a soft robot using conventional molding methods is difficult and time-consuming. Moreover, the types of materials used in the process are limited, and the elasticity cannot be changed incrementally. In this paper, we explain the detailed process of manufacturing molds for silicone joints. We construct a prototype molded silicone joint. We measure the elastic modulus of this joint and confirm that the elastic modulus and anisotropy change depending on the density, size, and arrangement of the surface grooves in the mold. We also develop a prototype human phantom using the proposed joint. We aim to contribute to the medical field by applying new techniques made possible by soft robotics.